THOUSANDS of fans shouted, posted and tweeted with celebration upon learning they got the hottest ticket in the nation - Michael Jackson's memorial at Staples Center at 10am Los Angeles time (1am Singapore time) today.

'Congratulations, your application was successful,' said an e-mail message to Deka Motanya, 27, of San Francisco, reported Associated Press.

She immediately Twittered: 'OMG OMG OMG OMG i got tickets to the michael jackson memorial service!!!'

Only 8,750 names were chosen from more than 1.6million applicants who registered online for free in the random draw. Each selected person gets a pair of tickets, with the odds of being chosen about 1 in 183.

Yesterday, ticket winners were issued a unique code and instructions to pick up tickets. A wristband will be placed on each attendee's wrist.

Organisers will check IDs to ensure those picking up wristbands are the same people who originally applied online, said Staples Center spokesman Michael Roth.

Fans must have both the ticket and the wristband to enter the venue. Wristbands that have been ripped, taped or tampered with will be voided.

But Mr Roth acknowledged that high-priced scalping of the free passes was possible because winners were permitted to give anyone their second bracelet.

Already, tickets are being touted over Twitter and eBay with an asking price of up to US$15,000 ($21,000) a piece, reported New York Daily News.

The memorial service will broadcast live on five television networks and on the Internet.

The streets around Staples Center will be barricaded and closed to prevent those without tickets from trying to attend. Police have warned those without tickets to stay away as the large screen outside the centre will not be broadcasting the memorial service, and there will be no funeral procession.

The joyful anticipation among the chosen fans comes as the courts continue to untangle the future of Jackson's estate and police probe the circumstances of his death.

Jackson died at age 50 on 25 June after going into cardiac arrest in the bedroom of his rented mansion. The cause of Jackson's death has not been determined. Autopsy results are not expected for several weeks.

Jackson's family was planning a private ceremony at the Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills.

The family reportedly had tense negotiations over which religion should prevail at his memorial service as the various family members were either Muslim, Christian or followers of Kabbalah or Jehovah's Witness.

Negotiations ended in a stalemate and the brothers have opted for a nondenominational event.

MEMORIAL IN NUMBERS

1.6m

Number of people who entered the global online lottery

Actual number of tickets available

Number of ticketless people expected to turn up

Number of applicants per minute applying for memorial tickets